Machine for and method of knitting run-resistant fabric



March 21, i967 NoBoRu MIYATA ETAL 35399939@ MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF KNITTING RUN-RESISTANT FABRIC 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 17. 1964 A DU nD A A A AH A A A INVENTOR$ NOBORU MIYATA and MASAYOSHI SUZUKI.

March 21,1967 NQBORU MIYATA ETAL.. Bgg@ MACHINE VFOR AND METHOD OF KNITTING RUN-RESISTANT FABRIC 6 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed Jan. 17, 1964 Fig. 3

I NVENTORS NOBOMU MWATA and MMA Yoshi BY Umm l A TTOILNIQ' Y.

March 2, 1967 NoBoRu MIYATA ETAL 3,39,9@

MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF KNITTING RUN-RESISTANT FABRIC Filed Jan. 17, 1964 Z5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 6

El E3 E2 E4 fel 3@5 I N V E NTOR NQBOWU MIYATA and MASA Yosm BY bUzUm United States Patent Oiitice 3,309,899 Patented Mar. 2l, 1967 3,309,899 MACHINE FR AND NmTHGD F KNITTING RUN-RESISTANT FABRIC Noboru Miyata, Kawasaki-shi, and Masayoshi Suzuki, Kanagawa-lru, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa-ken, Japan, assignors to Naigai Amimono Limited Co., Tokyo, Japan Filed Ian. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 338,380 Claims priority, application Japan, Jan. 21, 1963, SiS/1,777 9 Claims. (Cl. 66-13) This invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for circular knitting and, more particularly, to the knitting of womens run-proof hosiery.

It is the chief object of the invention to provide a method and an apparatus by which are produced womens run-proof seamless hosiery having adequate elastic or resilient properties and of sheer uniform texture.

Ancillary to the foregoing object, it is a further object to provide a construction in a circular knitting machine by which hosiery may be produced which, while runproof, has ample elasticity and stretch.

A further object is to provide a method by which the knitting of hosiery as aforesaid, is effected in a circular knitting machine, by employing two separately-fed threads and two separate or discrete sets of cams, to knit two courses during one rotation of the cylinder.

Still another object is to provide in a circular knitting machine, mechanism by which (a) several welt courses may be knitted due to the action of a third set of cams separate and distinct from the two sets previously mentioned, followed by (b) the inactivation of the third set and the automatic activation of the aforesaid two cam sets to knit a resilient run-proof leg section, (c) inactivation of the two cam sets to knit the heel portion by the usual swinging knitting in half circle, (d) activation of the two cam sets to knit the foot portion in the same manner as the leg portion, and (e) iinally inactivating the two cam sets to knit the toe portion by half circle swinging knitting.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art, after a study of the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawing:

In the drawing:

FIGURE l is a diagrammatic development of the arrangement of needles, illustrating the two sets of cams and their relative positions with respect to each other and to the needles successively actuated thereby, to the two thread feeders and the third cam station;

FIGURE 2 is a development to a greatly enlarged scale of the stitches produced in the machine of FIGURE 1, by which run-proof hosiery of great elasticity is produced;

FIGURE 3 is a view of a stocking knitted in accordance with our improved method and showing the various portions thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a View to an enlarged scale, of the welt portion of the stocldng of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 illustrates in vertical axial section, a p0rtion of the circular knitting machine constructed in ac cordance with our invention and showing details of the means by which transfer is effected from knitting of the welt to knitting of the leg portion, etc.;

FIGURE 6 shows in side elevation and to a greatly enlarged scale, the types of jacks used to actuate the needle in the machine embodying our invention; and

FIGURE 7 shows the structure of the first-knitted portion of the double welt embodied in the present invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing and, especially to FIGURE l, there are identified a iirst set or plurality of needles A and a second set or plurality of needles B. The needles are uniformly spaced about the periphery of rotatable cylinder 1, FIGURE 5, in an alternative array, i.e. A-B-A-B-A-B-A etc. The actual number of needles used is, of course, a matter of selection depending upon many variables. Two hundred were used in the example subsequently given. It will be understood that upon FIGURE l, where two needles B are shown contiguous, a number or group of needles between them have been omitted in order to condense the figure and to show the critical movements only of the needles.

In the usual way, each needle is individually mounted for guided vertical reciprocation along the axis of the cylinder. FIGURE 1 also shows that all needles are duplicates. Referring to FIGURE 5, each comprises 'an elongated shank terminating at its upper end in a hook 3 and having upper and lower latches 4 and 5, respectively, pivoted thereto in vertically-spaced relation below fhook 3, to assume the several relative positions shown upon FIGURE 1. Each needle has the usual butt at its lower end by which it is coupled to a respective one of an equal number of jacks shown upon FIGURE 1 and in greater detail upon FIGURE 6.

Referring to FIGURE 6, the jacks E1 through E., are seen to have the same hooked upper ends by which each is connected with its needle as clearly shown upon FIG- URE 5, so that each needle is translated vertically as a unit with corresponding vertical movement of its jack as the cylinder rotates. Jacks El and E3 have respective butts or cam followers e1 and e3 integrally formed therewith and located the same distance below the hooked upper ends. It will be understood that the jacks of each needle of set B are provided with butts or cam followers similarly positioned. Likewise, jacks E2 and E4 are equipped with integral cam followers e2 and e4, respectively, and located at a lower level in the assembled machine, than followers el and e3. All needles of set A are controlled by jacks having cam followers similarly positioned. At its lowermost end, each jack is provided with an integral offset =butt h1, h3, etc. One of the usual sinkers, one for each needle, is identified at 9, FIGURE 1.

At 6, FIGURE 1 is indicated in dot-dash lines the average or mean position of the cam followers el and e3, of the jacks connected with and controlling the knitting positions of the needles of set B. At 7, FIGURE 1, is identified in dot-dash lines, the average or mean position of the cam followers e2 and e4 of the jacks such as E2 and E4, controlling the knitting positions of the needles of set A. As the cylinder rotates the followers el, e3 of the set of needles B sequentially engage a first series of cams C1 through C6 in position about the axis of rotation.

Similarly and simultaneously followers e2 and e., of the set of needles A, sequentially engage and are actuated by a second series of cams Dl through De.

The actual knitting procedure is subsequently described but for the present it is sufficient to explain that starting at the right of FIGURE 1 and considering the cylinder as rotating in the direction indicated 'by arrow 8, the followers such as e1 and e3 of the set of needles B, are so located that each needle of set B is vertically positioned at the elevation shown by the first two needles B, Counting from the right. As each follower in sequence engages cam C2 it is elevated thereby through a distance equal to the separation between latch pivots of each needle, that is, to the position shown by the third and fourth needles of set B, right to left.

Next, and almost immediately after receiving thread from feeder F2, followers el and e3 engage cam C3 and are thereby sequentially moved downwardly slightly, to the position shown by the fifth needle of set B, right to left, whereby the thread is located below the upper latches of needles B and above the lower latches thereof, in succession. At cam C4, needles B are lowered successively by their followers until the Vthread kept below the lower latches thereof by the previous knitting action, urges the lower latches upwardly thereby pivoting them to override the upper latches respectively, hence maintaining said thread fed between the upper and lower latches in position, while the first mentioned thread is further advanced into the hooks of needles B to be held with the hooks respectively. Thereafter, the thread held at this time between the upper and lower latches is cast off successively from the needles by the pivoting movement of the upper latches onto the hooks of the needles due to the lower latches being released from the positions overriding the downwardly pivoted upper latches, thereby forming coiled loops wound around the flat knitted long loops previously formed.

After passing off the lower end of cam C4 the followers of set B engage cam C which acts to elevate the set of needles B successively to their maximum elevation just prior to passing thread feeder F1. Next the followers of set B engage cam C3 and are thereby successively lowered so that thread is successively fed to the hooks of set B, and nally the followers engage cam C1 to successively lower the needles to the position shown by needle B directly above the cam C1. In each case, FIGURE l, the needles of set B between any consecutive pair of cams, are shown in the position to which they are moved by the leading cam of the pair. For example, needles B between cams C3 and C4 are shown in the position Vto which they are moved as cam C3, passes thereon in succession.

Likewise, followers e2 and e1 of the jacks connected with each respective needle of set A traverse a path controlled by cams D1 through D3. Thus, starting from the right of track 7, these followers in succession first engage cam D3 to assure that each needle of set A is sequentially moved to receive thread in its hook from feeder F2. As these needles pass cam D., they are drawn downwardly to make a loop. As they pass cam D5 each is sequentially again raised to the intermediate or tuck position shown by needle A directly above cam D5. Cam D3 effects further translation of needles A to their maximum elevation. Cam D1 assures that all followers of jacks controlling set A are depressed to certainly engage cam D2 which lacts to again lower the needles of this set to complete the course.

In prior art methods of knitting run-proof seamless stockings, the thread which is coiled or wound about the at knitted loop of any given wale was supplied between two latches of double latch needles thus effecting the coils. The flat knitted loop about the sides of which the coils were made, was formed at the same knitting position so that the thread was merely supplied between two latches of a needle and knitted to form the at loop at almost the same moment that the coiling was accomplished. As a result of this procedure, the supply of thread for the coils was insufficient so that it had excessive tension at the point of the coiled stitch, and having little or no slack, the resulting knitted fabric had insuflicient elasticity.

Our invention solves the aforesaid problem by using two thread-feeding stations and four separate or discrete cam stations, so that sufficient thread for the coils is supplied and the resulting fabric has the desired stretch for comfort, appearance, and long wear.

Operation Starting with the needles immediately to the left of thread feeder F1, FIGURE l, it is noted that the needles of set B at this position are so adjusted that thread from feeder F1 is fed to their hooks, while needles A are so elevated that thread is fed between the two latches thereof. As the jack followers of the needles of set B successively contact cam C1, these needles are substantially lowered so that the thread of the previously formed loop escapes thereover and thread from feeder F1 is drawn therethrough to form a long flat loop. Simultaneously the needles of set A are sequentially lowered by cam D1 by a distance such that the thread cannot pass downwardly beneath the lower latch thereof. The needles are maintained in this position until, at cam station D2, each needle A is moved downwardly an additional distance so that the previously formed loop, located beneath its lower latch is shifted to the hook thereof, while the thread supplied between the two latches is removed from each needle A to form a coiled stitch or loop.

As the needle cylinder continues rotation, the followers integral with the needle jacks of set B engage cam C2 and are thereby moved slightly upwardly to make sure that they are horizontally aligned with cam C3. Simultaneously the follower for needles A engage and are moved upwardly by cam D3 to make certain that they are horizontally aligned with the upper end of cam D4. From FIGURE l it is noted that as they approach cams C2 and D3, the needles of each set are at the same elevation, but that, whereas each needle of set A remains substantially in its position of previous vertical adjustment, cam C2 acts to elevate in succession the needles of set B. Thus as the needles approach cams C3 and D., their position is the reverse of those they had after passing feeder F1 ,so that as the needles pass feeder F2, thread therefrom is fed to the hooks of needles A, and is likewise fed between the latches of needles B.

As the followers of set A engage cam D4, they are drawn downwardly in a function similar to that of cam C1, previously described, to draw thread from feeder F2 and form long llat loops each interengaged with a corresponding previously formed flat loop while cam C3 draws needles B downwardly sufliciently to assure that thread from feeder F2 cannot pass beneath the lower latch thereof. This function is like that effected by cam D1 for needles A, as previously described. As the jack followers of needles A engage cam D5, these needles are again elevated substantially.` As the jack followers of set B engage `cam C4 they are lowered to form coiled loops each about the sides lof the fiat loop of a corresponding Wale. Finally, as the needle followers engage cams C5 and D3 they are elevated to the same maximum height, while the needles of set B are immediately again lowered to position to receive thread from feeder F1 for the next course.

FIGURE 2 shows the fabric knitted by the operation as just described. Several successive threads are identified at t1, t2, t3, etc., and successive wales, left to right, are identified at W1, W2, W3, etc. Starting with thread t1 at its left as viewed upon the gure, it first forms a coiled loop of wale W1, about the sides of long at loop A1 of thread t2, then passes through long loop A3 of thread t3, wale W2, then passes in a coiled loop about the sides of long loop A2 of thread I2, wale W3, and so on.

Thread t2, left to right, first passes through the long loop of thread t4, wale W1, passes in a coiled loop about the sides of long loop A3, wale W2, then passes through the long loop of thread t1 at wale W3, etc. There is thus produced a circular knit article of hosiery that has ample elasticity or stretch laterally, that is, in the direction of its courses, as well as longitudinally along the wales. Of course, the threads shown upon FIGURE 2 are, for clarity of illustration, somewhat distorted out of their true positions in a commercially-produced stocking embodying the invention. Thus, for example, the coiled loops of each thread are, in the actual knit article, more nearly straight, so that the sides of the at loops about which each coiled loop extends, are somewhat distorted out of paths shown in the figure as substantially straight. Thus tension applied in the direction of the courses results in free stretch of the fabric due to the straightening of the threads at the coiled loops thereof and the resulting increase in separation between the sides of the long hat loops. Likewise, tension in the direction of the wales results in stretch due to the fact that the sides of the flat loops tend to become more nearly straight. Furthermore, runs are prevented because of the increased resistance to ravelling at the coiled loops of each course.

FIGURES 3, 5 and 7 illustrate how we produce a complete seamless stocking utilizing the mechanism previously described in connection with FIGURE 1. The machine embodying our invention is provided with transfer jacks I1, I2, FIGURE 5, which are slidable radially of the axes of the rotating needle cylinder from a radially outward position wherein their outer hooked ends receive thread, to an inward position wherein the thread 4is retracted away from the needles.

Reference to FIGURE 6 shows that the needle jacks have butts or cam followers h1, h3, h2 and h4 at their lower ends. Cams C1 through C5, and D1 through D5, are retractable when desired, so that they pass free and clear of the butts or followers e1, e3, e2 and e1. At this time the followers e1 and e2 are engaged by a relatively short cam C7, vertically aligned with thread feeder F1. When followers e1 and e3 are engaged by cam C7, needles B are cammed downwardly in succession, out of their normal paths under control of cams C1 through C6. When the first course K is being knitted, needles B are lowered in succession by cam C, so that the needles of set A only are fed thread, thus resulting in forming the first course K by the action of cams G1, G2 and G3, FIGURE 1. During knitting of the second course L1, all needles receive thread so that this forms the beginning course. At the third course M, needles A are successively lowered, transfer jacks I1 and I2 advance to position between the lowered set of needles B, receive thread, and are next retracted radially toward the center of dial I. During knitting of the fourth course N, all needles are actuated to make fiat loops. When the fifth course O is knitted, cams G1, G2 and G3 are retracted to inactive position and cams C1 through C6, and D1 through D6, are returned in succession to active position so that the alternate at loop and coiled loop knitting as previously described, is resumed until the leg portion T of the stocking is completed. Thereafter, heel portion U, is knitted using half circle swing knitting flat loops. For this purpose cams C1 through C6 and D1 through D5 are retracted and cams G1 to G3 are made active.

Next, the thread feeders are again changed and cams C1 through C5 and D1 through D6 are successively moved to active positions, in place of cams G1, G2 and G3. Thus the foot portion V of the stocking is knitted in the same manner as the leg portion T. Upon completion of foot portion V, the thread supply is again changed to the same thread as was used in knitting the welt, cams C1 through C6 are again inactivated and cams G1, G2 and G3 are advanced to active positions, so that ring toe portion W is knitted with flat loops only. Finally, toe portion X is knitted, using ordinary half circle swinging knitting, as was employed in forming heel portion U.

Thus, with the present invention, as depicted upon FIG- URE 2, each course consists of alternate fiat loops and coiled loops. Likewise each Wale has an alternate arrangement of fiat coiled loops. The method as characterized `by the use of two thread feeders and four discrete cam stations to form alternate fiat loops and coiled loops or stitches, by means of two sets of needles A and B. As a result there is provided a fabric having excellent elasticity and run-proof quality.

Although we have described the stocking of FIGURE 3 as having heel and top portions knitted with strong thread and ordinary at loops, utilizing usual half circle swing knitting, it is possible to knit these portions using alternate fiat and coiled loops as previously described. Thus all portions of a stocking so knitted may be made essentially run-proof.

As an example of fabric knitted in accordance with the invention, the machine used had a diameter of 31/2", equipped with 2G() needles, a K-type circular knitting machine. The thread was nylon 70D filament. The completed fabric had an apparent or unstretched circumferential dimension of 18 cm. which could be extended to 36 cm. Tn the longitudinal direction, a length of the same faerie having an apparent dimension of 5 cm. could be extended to 9 cm. Thus the invention enables the production of knitted fabric having an extensibility ratio of about 2:1 and is thus eminently suitable and indeed, highly satisfactory for hosiery, especially womens stock- 111 s.

gThe foregoing description should be taken in an illustrative, rather than a limiting sense, it being understood that the invention is not limited to the precise details of construction shown but, to the contrary, embraces and includes all modications, alterations and substitutions of equivalents within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

Having now fully disclosed the invention what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of producing tubular run-proof hosiery on a circular knitting machine having a multiplicity of double-latch` needles arranged in circumferentially-spaced relation about a common axis, parallel therewith, and rotatable as a unit about said axis and individually translatable along said `axis, alternate ones of said needles forming a first set, the remaining ones of said needles forming a second set, said method comprising, translating said first set of needles in succession by means of a first set of cams while simultaneously translating said second set of needles in succession by a second set of cams independent of but fixedly related with said first set of cams, for each rotation of said needles as a unit and feeding first and second threads to said needles at two points circumferentially spaced about said common axis, said needles acting on said first and second threads to form two contiguous courses for each rotation of said needles as a unit, each said course consisting of elongated fiat loops alternating with short coiled loops, each coiled loop of one course being coiled about each side of a corresponding flat loop of the next contiguous course.

2. The method of knitting tubular run-proof hosiery on a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder rotatable about a fixed axis, a multiplicity of needles carried 'by said cylinder in uniforrnly-spaced relation about and parallel with the axis of the cylinder and independently translatable along said axis for knitting, alternate ones of said needles forming a first set and the remaining ones of said needles forming a second set, said method comprising (l) feeding a first thread to said needles, in succession, at a first point, while simultaneously and sequentially translating the needles of said first set to form a succession of long fiat loops from said first thread, (2) subsequently and successively translating the needles of said second set to form from said rst thread a succession of coiled loop each between a respective consecutive pair of said flat loops, (3) subsequently feeding a second thread to said needles in succession at a second point circumferentially spaced about said axis from said first point, while simultaneously and successively translating the needles of said second set to form from said second thread, long flat loops each interengaged with a respective one of previously formed fiat loops, and (4) subsequently and successively translating the needles of said first set to form from said second thread, coiled loops each coiled about the sides lof a respective one of the fiat loops of said first thread, each rotation of the cylinder producing two courses.

3. The method of claim 2, each said steps (1) through (4) being effected by first and second discrete cam surfaces in fixed relation about said axis, said cam surfaces effecting steps (1) and (4) being circumferentially spaced about said axis at one level normal to said axis, land said cam surfaces effecting steps (2) and (3) being circumferentially spaced about said axis at a second and different level normal to said `axis.

4. In a circular knitting machine, a multiplicity of double latch needles, .means mounting said needles in radiallyand equiangularly-spaced relation about and parallel with a common axis, -for independent translation along said axis, and for rotation as a unit about said axis, a cam-carrying element fixed coaxially about said axis, a

first pair of cams fixed with said element at a first level along said axis and circumferentially spaced thereabout, a second pair of cams fixed with said element at a second level along said axis and circumferentially spaced thereabout, first jack means connected with alternate ones of said needles and having follower means engageable With said first pair of cams only, second jack means connected with the remaining ones of said needles and engageable with said second pair of cams only, and first and second thread feeders mounted in circumferentially spaced relation about said axis and operable to feed thread in succession to all said needles.

5. In a circular knitting machine, a knitting cylinder having a central axis of symmetry, and rotatable about said axis, a multiplicity of double latch needles mounted on said cylinder parallel with said axis and in equiangularly-spaced relation thereabout, each said needle being independently translatable parallel with said axis in knitting movement, alternate ones of said needles forming a first set, the remaining ones of said needles forming a second set, a cam carrying element fixed about said axis relatively to said needles, a rst pair of cams circumferentially spaced about said axis and carried by said element at a first level along said axis, a second pair of cams circumferentially spaced about said axis and carried by said element at a second level along` said axis, a multiplicity of jacks each connected with a respective one of said needles to translate the same, first follower means connected with the jacks Aof said first set of needles and engaging in sequence said first pair of cams only for each rotation of said cylinder, and second follower means connected with the jacks of said second set of needles and engaging in sequence said second pair of cams only for each rotation of said cylinder.

6. The machine of claim 5, a third set of cams fixed with said element at a third level along said axis and circumferentially spaced thereabout, said third set of cams being adapted to actuate said first set of needles in halfcircle swing knitting translation, third cam follower means carried by said jacks at the lower ends thereof and engaging said third set of cams and a transfer cam carried by said element and engageable with said jacks to transfer controlled movement of said needles from said first pair of cams to said third set of cams.

7. The machine of claim 6, said transfer cam being mounted on said element at said first level.

8. The method of knitting tubular run-proof hosiery on a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder rotatable about a fixed central axis, a multiplicity of double- -latch needles carried by said cylinder in uniformly circumferentially spaced relation about said axis, and each independently translatable along said axis for knitting, alternate ones of said needles forming a first set, the remaining ones of said needles forming a second set, said method comprising, sequentially feeding a first thread at a first point into the hook of each needle of said first set, and between the latches of each needle of said second set, actuating the needles of said first set from a first set of cams to -form long loops of plain knitted structure, while simultaneously actuating the needles of said second set from a second set of cams, to knit a coiled loop each alternating with a long loop, sequentially feeding a second thread at a second point circumferentially spaced about said axis from said first point, between the latches of each needle of said first set, and into the hook of each needle of said second set, actuating the needles of said first set by said first set of cams, to knit a coiled loop about the sides of each previously knitted long loop, while simultaneously actuating each needle of said second set by said second set of cams, to knit a long loop through the long loop of a previously knitted course, whereby each Wale consists of a series of knitted long loops each having a resilient loop Vtwisted about the sides thereof.

9. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder rotatable about a fixed central axis, a multiplicity of doublelatch needles carried by said cylinder in uniformly-spaced, side-by-side relation about said axis and for rotation as a unit with the cylinder and independent individual translation parallel with said axis, alternate ones of said needles forming a first set, the remaining ones of said needles forming a second set, a first set of fixed cams positioned circumferentially about said axis for coaction with said first set of needles only and located substantially in a first plane normal to said axis, a second set of fixed cams positioned circumferentially about said axis for coaction with said second set of needles only, and located substantially in a second plane normal to said axis and spaced therealong from said first set of carns, a first fixed thread feeder, said first set of cams operating said first set of needles sequentially to yfeed thread from said first feeder to the hooks thereof, said second set of cams operating said second set of needles to feed thread lfrom said first feeder, sequentially between the latchesof said second set, a second fixed thread feeder fixed in circumferentially spaced relation about said axis from said first feeder, said first set of earns operating said first set of needles to sequentially Ifeed thread from said second feeder between the latches thereof, said second set of cams operating said second set of needles to sequentially feed thread from said second feeder to the hooks of the needles of Y said second set, said cams and needles being constructed and arranged to knit two courses for each rotation of said cylinder, to form a fabric wherein each Wale consists of knitted plain long loops each having a loop twisted about the sides thereof, and each course consists of alternate long and twisted loops.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,951,102 3/1934 Mills 66-41 2,076,910 4/1937 Mills 66-169 2,429,796 10/ 1947 Bonser 66-25 2,968,170 1/ 1961 Wiesinger 66-38 X 3,034,324 5/1962 McDonough 66-42 3,124,945 3/ 1964 Moretta 66-42 3,131,556 5/1964 Nebel 66-178 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

DONALD W. PARKER, RUSSELL C. MADER, W. C.

REYNOLDS, P. C. FAW, Assistant Examiners. 

1. THE METHOD OF PRODUCING TUBULAR RUN-PROOF HOISERY ON A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE HAVING A MULTIPLICITY OF DOUBLE-LATCH NEEDLES ARRANGED IN CIRCUMFERENTIALLY-SPACED RELATION ABOUT A COMMON AXIS, PARALLEL THEREWITH, AND ROTATABLE AS A UNIT ABOUT SAID AXIS AND INDIVIDUALLY TRANSLATABLE ALONG SAID AXIS, ALTERNATE ONES OF SAID NEEDLES FORMING A FIRST SET, THE REMAINING ONES OF SAID NEEDLES FORMING A SECOND SET, SAID METHOD COMPRISING TRANSLATING SAIF FIRST SET OF NEEDLES IN SUCCESSION BY MEANS OF A FIRST SET OF CAMS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY TRANSLATING SAID SECOND SET OF NEEDLES IN SUCCESSION BY A SECOND SET OF CAMS INDEPENDENT OF BUT 